Joe Palumbo running for Democratic nomination for 6th Congressional District

Joe Palumbo, president of Palumbo Lumber of Lexington, said Thursday he will run for Congress in Central Kentucky’s 6th District for the chance to take on freshman Republican U.S. Rep. Andy Barr.

Palumbo announced his candidacy in an email Thursday morning.

“Over the past few months, many folks from across the Commonwealth have asked me to throw my hat in the ring, and I’ve been humbled and honored to be considered,” Palumbo said in the statement. “After careful thought and a long conversation with my family, I’ve decided this is an opportunity to fight partisan gridlock and solve the problems holding our country and region back. I look forward to the weeks and months ahead. I look forward to running a campaign that puts the needs of our communities above the petty and partisan politics that have come to dominate our political system. Most of all, I look forward to doing the hard work Congress has failed to do.”

Palumbo enters the Democratic primary for Congress with the highest name ID of candidates so far. The Palumbo family name is well-known in Lexington because of the business. His mother, Rep. Ruth Ann Palumbo of Lexington, is the longest-serving woman in the state House. And his wife, Jennifer Nime Palumbo is a well-known Lexington news anchor.

Other Democrats, Elisabeth Jensen and lawyer Michael Coblenz , have announced their candidacies in recent weeks. Jensen raised more than $74,000 in the last two weeks of June, according to her FEC report.

Palumbo first confirmed to Pure Politics in March that he was considering the race and was being encouraged by Democrats to run.